Royal Bank of Scotland tests new contact-less card

June 15, 2006

By Peter Kenny

A trial using a new contact-less debit card begins this week at the Royal Bank of Scotland’s headquarters in Edinburgh.

Designed as a replacement for cash used for low value purchases, the new contact-less debit card will be able to be used in a number of retail outlets that are currently resident in the Royal Bank of Scotland’s head office campus in Edinburgh.

The debit card works by transmitting data through an aerial built into the card. A data reader in the retail store receives this signal. All that is need is to wave the debit card in the direction of the reader when payment is required.

Out of the 3000 RBS staff currently located at the Edinburgh head office, over 1000 have applied to take part in the trial.

A spokesperson for the Royal Bank of Scotland said, "It means consumers don't need to have a pocket full of change and it's a speedier system for retailers."

During the trial period, the system will only be used for transactions up to £10. Any transactions over £10 will be processed normally through the cards chip and pin.

It is thought that the trial will continue until the end of the year.